Child uninsured rate high, state program use low

CARSON CITY, Nev. 
At a time when Nevada has the highest uninsured rate for children in the nation, enrollment is down in a state program that officials say could provide free medical care for some poor children.

A Census Bureau study released this week found that one of every five Nevada children lacks health insurance.

At the same time, state officials say enrollment in Nevada Check Up has dropped more than 10 percent from a year ago.

The census study found about 120,000 Nevada children – or 20.2 percent of those under age 18 – now lack health insurance.

That rate is more than double the national average of 9.9 percent.

Officials say that for Nevadans of all ages, the uninsured rate in 2008 was 21.3 percent.